Israel strikes Iran’s capital targeting military and nuclear sites

We start with news of a dramatic escalation in tensions in the Middle East.

Israel has launched a pre-emptive attack against Iran amid the latter's nuclear weapons ambitions.

Our BYEON Ye-young reports.

In the early hours of Friday, Israel launched strikes on Iran's capital, Tehran, targeting nuclear and military facilities.

"Moments ago, Israel launched Operation Rising Lion, a targeted military operation to roll back the Iranian threat to Israel's very survival. This operation will continue for as many days as it takes to remove this threat."

State media confirmed the deaths of several top military officials and scientists, including Mohammed Bagheri, Chief of Staff of Iran's military.

General Hossein Salami, commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps, and ranking commander Gen. Gholamali Rashid were also reported killed.

People in Tehran heard another round of explosions a few hours after the initial attack, with more being heard in other Iranian cities as well.

The strikes come just days before scheduled U.S.-Iran nuclear talks in Oman.

According to a statement released by the state-run news agency, Iran's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, warned of "severe punishment" for Israel.

Brigadier General Effie Deffrin, chief spokesperson for the Israeli army, said Iran had launched over 100 drones toward Israel in recent hours, and that defense systems were working to intercept the threats.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio described Israel's actions as "unilateral" and stated that Israel had informed the U.S. it viewed the attacks as essential for its self-defense.

Meanwhile, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres condemned the military escalation and called on both sides to exercise maximum restraint, warning that the Middle East cannot afford a wider conflict.

Byeon Ye-young, Arirang News.